7 reasons to be optimistic about housing

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Let's face it, 2009 has been a tough year for almost everyone in the real estate industry. When times are tough and negative news floods the media, it can be hard to stay positive. Today's column looks at seven reasons to give thanks, no matter how tough your market is. 1. Marketing no longer requires big bucks While the pace of technological change can be frustrating, technology changes have dramatically cut the cost of marketing. To obtain a foothold in a new market 10 years ago, you had to door-knock, spend thousands of dollars on print marketing, and regularly hold open houses.Today, the Web allows you to market your listings and your services in numerous places. In fact, according to Alexa.com, Facebook alone accounts for approximately 24 percent of all Web traffic. Inste...